Scouring pad holders



July 10, 1956 G. B. CLARK 2,753,581

SCOURING PAD HOLDERS Filed March 30, 1953 22 50 1e e g--2 ATTOf/YEX 43 INVENTOR.

6 We Gt'O/PGl/YA 5. cm/ek f 6 BY W WW 7 SCDURING PAD HOLDERS Georgina B. Clark, Feasterville, Pa. Application March 30, 1953, Serial No. 345,390

6 Claims. (Cl. --209) My invention relates to scouring pad holders, and it relates more particularly to holders which are flexible and capable of ready insertion and removal of the pad, as well as assurance of protection of all parts of the hand from contact with the pad.

One of the most efiicient types of scouring pads is that which comprises steel wool. However, its use has proven dangerous to the user because fragments of steel wool become embedded in the hand which holds the pad. Attempts have been made in the past to provide auxiliary holding devices in order to protect the hand from contact with the pad. These have proven generally unsatisfactory however, for they were cumbersome, diflicult and expensive to make, bulky, and substantially inflexible for guiding the pad about corners which are diflicult to clean. Moreover in many instances, such attempts did not assure freedom from hand contact with the pad in all phases of its use including installation and removal of the pad from the holder.

One object of my invention therefore, is to provide a holder for a scouring pad, which shall be so constructed as to be readily flexed while permitting positive control of the pad in cleaning diflicult corners.

Another object of my invention is to provide a holder for a scouring pad, which is so constructed as to permit ready disposal of the pad into fully covered condition when not in use, and facile projection of the pad into utile position, all without contact of the pad by the fingers.

A further object of my invention is to provide a holder for a scouring pad which is so constructed as to assure protection of the fingers from contact with the pad during the scouring operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a holder for a scouring pad, which is readily and inexpensively manufactured, easily carried and which occupies a minimum of space when in use.

A further object of my invention is to provide a holder for a scouring pad, which is easily cleaned.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists of a holder for a scouring pad having a width, and a length; said holder comprising a flexible plastic sheet folded and sealed into a primary pocket portion having an entrance channel, and a base; and secondary pocket portions formed with their bases on either side of said entrance channel, and said secondary pocket portions extending along the outer face of said primary pocket portion and toward the base thereof; said entrance channel being shorter than the length of said base; said entrance channel being spaced from said base a distance greater than the length of said scouring pad, and said entrance channel being longer than the width of said scouring pad.

My invention also consists of a holder for a scouring pad, said holder being formed of a plastic sheet having a body portion comprising an upper edge and a lower edge, and lateral projections extending on either side of said body portion, said lateral projections each having an ed States Patent ice upper edge portion and a lower edge portion; a fold disposed intermediate each of said lateral projections and said body portion; said upper edge portions of the body portion and of the lateral projections immediately adjacent each of said folds, being disposed substantially symmetrically about said fold; said lower edge portions of the body portion and of the lateral projection immediately adjacent each of said folds, being disposed substantially symmetrically about said fold; an edge of said body portion and the adjacent edge of one of said lateral projections being recessed at the fold therebetween; and the continuation of said last-mentioned body portion edge, and the adjacent edge of the other of said lateral projections being substantially similarly recessed at the fold therebetween, operably to render each of said folds shorter than the greatest distance between said upper and lower edges of said body portion; one of said lateral projections being folded about its adjacent fold until a face of said lateral projection is substantially juxtaposed to a face of said body portion; the other of said lateral projections being folded about its adjacent fold until a face of said last-mentioned lateral projection is substantially juxtaposed to said last-mentioned face of said body portion; and said body portion being itself folded about a fold extending from its said upper edge portion to its said lower edge portion, thereby dividing its opposed face into two segments and disposing said segments sub stantially in juxtaposition to each other; a juncture formed along said upper edge portions and between each of said lateral projections and said body portion, and between juxtaposed segments of said body portion; and a juncture formed along said lower edge portions and between said lateral projections and said body portion, and between said juxtaposed segments of said body portion. t

My invention also consists of the parts and combinations of parts as more fully disclosed hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred by me, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized, and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and organizations of the instrumentalities as herein shown and de scribed.

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a scouring pad holder embodying my invention.

Figure 2 represents a plan view of a blank which may be used in forming a scouring pad holder embodying my invention.

Figure 3 represents a perspective view showing one stage in the transfer of a scouring pad from a fully covered position in the holder, to an exposed position wherein it is ready for use, and embodying my invention.

Figure 4 represents a perspective view of a subsequent stage in the transfer of said scouring pad to a position wherein it is ready for use, and embodying my invention.

Figure 5 represents a perspective view showing a scouring pan holder in actual use in scouring a diflicult corner, and embodying my invention.

Figure 6 represents a perspective view illustrating a method of returning the scouring pad from a position wherein it is ready for use, to a fully covered position, in a holder embodying my invention.

The scouring pad holder of my invention may be made of a blank 10 formed of a sheet of flexible plastic such for instance as vinyl, cellophane, or the like. In a preferred form, the plastic is transparent, although my invention is capable of being made of a translucent or opaque (not shown) material. "Theblank 111 may comprise a body portion 11 having an upper edge or margin 12 and alower edge .ormargin 13 which may be parallel thereto. Alateral projection 14 maybe extended from one side portion 15 of the body portion 1-1, and is preferably formed integral therewith. Alateral projection 16 may be extended from the opposed side portion 17 and body portion 11, .andis preferably formed integral therewith. A fold portion 18 is disposed intermediate the lateral projection 14 and the side i3, and preferably extends between the upper edge or margin 19 and lower edge ormargin 20 of the lateral projection 14. Afold 21 .may be disposed intermediate the lateral projection 16 and thesideportion 1-7 of the body 11 and preferably extends between the upper edge or margin 2.; and lower edge or.margin 23 of the lateral projection 16. The uppermargins 12 and .19 are preferably symmetrical about the axis 24of the fold 18, and the lower margins 13 and 2t} arepreferably similarly symmetrical about said-axis 24. The upper margins 12 and 22 are preferably symmetrical about the axis 25 of the fold 21 and the lower margins 13 and 23 are preferably similarly symmetrical about said axis '25. In a preferred form, the symmetrical and conjoint'margins 12 and 19 are inclined toward each other as by angular or arcuate disposition with their apex 26 disposed substantially at the beginning of the fold 18. The margins 13 and 24 may be similarly disposed and with an apex 27 disposed at the opposed endof the fold 18. In this manner, the conjoint margins 12 and 19 form a recessed portion 28, and the conjoint margins'13 and 21} form a recessed portion 29. The conjoint margins 12 and 22 may be similarly disposed to form a recessed portion 30 with its apex 31 disposed substantially at-one end of the fold 21 and the conjoint margins 13 and 23 may be likewise similarly recessed as at 32 with an apex 33 disposed substantially at the opposed end of the'fold 21.

The outer end portionof the lateral projection 14- may comprise an edge 34 extending substantially between the margins 19 and 20. Similarly, the outer end portion of the lateral projection 16 may comprise the edge 35 extending substantially between the margins 22 and 23. The body portion "11 has a fold 36 extending between the margins 12 and '13, and preferably perpendicular thereto and intermediate the foldportions 18 and 21.

The blank '10 may then be folded about the fold 18, with the upper'face 37 of the lateral projection 14 brought substantially into juxtaposition to the upper face 38 of the adjacent side 15 of the body portion 11. The lateral projection 16 similarlymay be folded about the fold 21, with the upperface 39 of 'the'lateral projection 16 being disposed substantially in juxtaposition to the upper face 40 "of the side 17 of the bodyportion 11. The body portion 11 may itself be folded about'the fold 36 so as to dispose the underfaces 41of'the-side segments '15 and 17 substantially in juxtaposition to each other. The blank 10 has thus been folded into position substantially as illustrated in Figure 1. It may then be sealed in said position We plastic sealing device (not shown) whereby adjacent 'plastic elements are melted and united upon cooling. Thus,'theremay'beformed a homogeneous mass 42 .of plastic which'has thus been molten and cooled, in the vicinity of the margins13 and 20 and 23, and a similarly substantially homogeneous mass 43 may be formed along the opposed margins of the blank, saidmasses 42 and 43 extending substantially from the fold 36 to the folds 18 and 21. These substantially homogeneous masses comprise plastic seals, and it is to be understood that although a preferred vform'of my invention embodies the use of such seals, my invention is to'be considered as not limitedtosuchseals but 'may inclu'de as well :other means of securing toeach otherjuxtaposed sides and projections of the blank 10. Such other'meansmay include sewing, riveting, stapling, cementing, or the like.

It will be found that there has thus been formed a primary pocket 44 extending from an entrance channel 45 to the base 46 disposed substantially along the fold 36; with secondary pockets 47 and 41' on either side of the entrance channel 45, and extending substantially from the seal 42 to the seal 43, and from their bases respectively formed along the folds 18 and 21 defining said entrance channel 45 of the primary pocket 44, to their own respectiveentrance channels, defined by the respective edges 34 and 35.

In operation, the-holder 49 thus formed may be used in conjunction with a scouring pad 50 of any desired shape, but for the purposes of illustration, the pad 59 may be consideredas'having a widthextending between its sides 51 and a length extending between its ends 52. The operator may embrace the holder 49 with his hand 53 by slipping his fingers 54 into one secondary pocket 43 and his thumb 55 into the other-secondary pocket 47, with the base 46 of the pad 49 disposed substantially between the bases of the thumbSS and the index finger 56. Bysprea'ding'his thumb 55 apart from his fingers 54,.

he opens the entrance channel 44 of the pad 49 sufliciently to permit the entrance thereinto of an end 52 of the scouring pad'50. 'The operator may then reach for said end '52 and embrace it with the side walls 41 of said entrance channel. Bearing against the pad 50 he may urge said side walls 41 about the pad 50 until a sufficient amount of the pad 50 has been inserted into the primary pocket 44 to enable thepad to be carried thereby. The operator may then withdraw his hand, and the holder 49 may then be lifted into upright position substantially as illustrated-in Figure 6. By'squeezing the opposed seals 42 and 43 toward each other in the vicinity of the entrance channel 45, the operator may widen the opening of the channel '45 sutficicntly to permit the pad 51) to drop the remainder of the Way into the primary pocket 44 and substantially into abutting relation to the base 46. If desired, this transposition may be aided by gently shaking or vibrating the holder 49, or by a quick alternating of opening and closing movements comprising alternatelypushing andpulling the entrance channel ends of the seals '42 and 43 toward and away from each other. The pad 50 is now safely ensconced in the holder 49.

When it is desired to use thepad 50, the base portion 46 of the holder 49 maybe grasped between the thumb 55 and the fingers 54, and squeezed therebetween operably to cam the end .52 of thepad outwardly toward the entrance channel 45, substantially as illustrated in Figure 3. The thunib 55 and finger '54 may then be advanced toward the entrance channel and again moved toward each other in a manner to squeeze the holder 49 therebetween operably to cam the base 52 further toward the entrance channel 45, until a suflicient quantity of scouring pad has been projected outwardly through the entrance channel 45 to provide adequate scouring material 'for'the operation athand.

The operator then slips his fingers 54 into the secondary pocket 48 and his thumb 55 into the secondary pocket '47 and grasps the pad '50 through the flexible plastic walls of the primary pocket 44, substantially as is illustrated in Figure 5. In this position, the pad 50 may be urged into any desired corner as for instance the corner 57 of the utensil '58, or may be used for scouring any other surface. Therecesses28 and 30 and the recesses 29 and 32 combine toform an obtuse angle with the folds 18 and 21 which form the margins of the entrance channel 45, SHlClzObllllSG 'angle reducing to a ruinimum, interference by the holder 49 with the pad 50 in the scouring operation, particularly when scouring in diflieult corners. When the scouring'operation has been completed, the pad 50 may be returned to its completely covered position in the holder 49 in substantially the same manner described hereinabove and as illustrated in Figure-'6.

In thescouring'operation,"as "well asin the loading,

avenger pad-advancing and pad-receding operations, the flexible, impervious material of which the holder is made enables the operator freely to maneuver the pad in virtually all respects as though he were holding it directly and without the intervention of a holder, yet without danger of harm from contact with the pad itself. When it is desired to clean the holder, the pad 50 may be fully advanced out of the pocket 44, and then held under running water as under an open faucet (not shown). Each pocket 44, 4'7 and 48 in turn may thus be held momentarily under the stream of water. The action of the water is to dislodge any dirt, soap, grease or particles of steel wool and to carry it off with the flushing stream. No rubbing or wiping is necessary.

It will be noted that at no time in any of the foregoing operations is there any need for the operator to touch the scouring pad with his hands, and his use thereof is completely safe.

Moreover, the construction of the holder is such as to enable it to be folded or otherwise packaged or carried in a minimum of space and with a minimum of weight, as well as to be manufactured of inexpensive materials and with a minimum of operations, requiring merely a simple blanking, folding and one-stroke sealing operation.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A holder for a scouring pad having a width and a length; said holder comprising a flexible plastic sheet folded and sealed into a primary pocket portion having an entrance channel and a base portion; and secondary pocket portions formed with their bases on each side of said entrance channel, and said secondary pocket portions extending along the outer face of said primary pocket portion and toward the base thereof; said entrance channel being shorter than the length of said base; said entrance channel being spaced from said base a distance greater than the length of said scouring pad, and said entrance channel being longer than the width of said scouring pad.

2. A holder for a scouring pad having a width and a length; said holder comprising a flexible plastic sheet folded and sealed into a primary pocket portion having an entrance channel and a base portion; and secondary pocket portions formed with their bases on each side of said entrance channel, and said secondary pocket portions extending along the outer face of said primary pocket portion and toward the base thereof; said entrance channel being spaced from said base a distance greater than the length of said scouring pad, and said entrance channel being longer than the width of said scouring pad.

3. A holder for a scouring pad; said holder comprising a flexible plastic sheet folded and sealed into a primary pocket portion having an entrance channel and a base portion; and secondary pocket portions formed with their bases on each side of said entrance channel, and said secondary pocket portions extending along the outer face of said primary pocket portion and toward the base thereof; said entrance channel being shorter than the length of said base.

4. A holder for a scouring pad, said holder being formed of a flexible plastic sheet having a body portion comprising an upper edge and a lower edge, and lateral projection portions extending on each side of said body portion, said lateral projection portions each having an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion; a fold disposed intermediate each of said lateral projection portions and said body portion; said upper edge portions of the body portion and of the lateral projection portions inimediately adjacent each of said folds, being disposed substantially symmetrically about said fold; said lower edge portions of the body portion and of the lateral projection portions immediately adjacent each of said folds, being disposed substantially symmetrically about said fold; an edge of said body portion and the adjacent edge of one of said lateral projection portions being recessed at the fold t'herebetween; and the continuation of said lastmentioned body portion edge, and the adjacent edge of the other of said lateral projection portions being substantially similarly recessed at the fold therebetween, operably to render each of said folds shorter than the greatest distance between said upper and lower edges of said body portion; one of said lateral projection portions being folded about its adjacent fold with a face of said lateral projection portion being substantially juxtaposed to a face of said adjacent body portion; the other of said lateral projection portions being folded about its adjacent fold with a face of said last-mentioned lateral projection por tion being substantially juxtaposed to a face of its adjacent body portion; and said body portion being itself folded about a fold extending from its said upper edge portion to its said lower edge portion, said last-mentioned fold dividing its opposed face into two segments, said segments being disposed substantially in juxtaposition to each other; a juncture formed along said upper edge portions and between each of said lateral projection portions and said body portion, and between juxtaposed segments of said body portion; and a juncture formed along said lower edge portions and between said lateral projection portions and said body portion, and between said juxtaposed segments of said body portion.

5. A holder for a scouring pad, said holder being formed of a flexible plastic sheet having a body portion comprising an upper edge and a lower edge, and lateral projection portions extending on each side of said body portion, said lateral projection portions each having an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion; a fold disposed intermediate each of said lateral projection portions and said body portion; said upper edge portions of the body portion and of the lateral projection portions immediately adjacent each of said folds, being disposed substantially symmetrically about said fold; said lower edge portions of the body portion and of the lateral projection portion immediately adjacent each of said folds, being disposed substantially symmetrically about said fold; one of said lateral projection portions being folded about its adjacent fold with a face of said lateral projection portion substantially juxtaposed to a face of said body portion; the other of said lateral projection portions being folded about its adjacent fold with a face of said lastmentioned lateral projection portion being substantially juxtaposed to a face of said body portion; and said body portion being itself folded about a fold extending from its said upper edge portion to its said lower edge portion, said last-mentioned portion dividing its opposed face into two segments, said segments being disposed sub stantially in juxtaposition to each other; said two firstmentioned folds each being shorter than said body fold; a juncture formed along said upper edge portions and between each of said lateral projection portions and said body portion, and between juxtaposed segments of said body portion; and a juncture formed along said lower edge portions and between said lateral projection portions and said body portion, and between said juxtaposed segments of said body portion.

6. Aholder for a scouring pad, said holder being formed of a flexible plastic sheet having a body portion comprising an upper edge and a lower edge, and lateral projection portions extending on each side of said body portion, said lateral projection portions each having an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion; a fold disposed intermediate each of said lateral projection portions and said body portion; said upper edge portions of the body portion and of the lateral projection portions immediately adjacent eachof said folds, being disposed substantially symmetricallyab'out said fold; said lower'edge portions of thebody portion and of the lateral projection portion immediately adjacent each of said folds, being disposed substantially symmetrically about said fold; one of said lateral projection portions being folded about its adjacent fold with a face of said lateral projection portion being substantially juxtaposed to a face of said bodyportion; the other of said lateral projection portions being folded about its adjacent fold with a face of said last-mentioned lateral projection portion being substantially juxtaposed to a face of said body portion; and said body portion being itself folded about a fold extending from its said upper edge portion to-its said lower edge portion, thereby dividing'its opposed face intotwo segments and disposing said segments substantially in juxtaposition to each other.

References :Citerlin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

